News Update
December 2, 2015
Angus Shows at the North American
The North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) took place in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 15-16, at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The Super-Point ROV show included some steep competition for bulls, cow-calf pairs and females. Complete show highlights can be found at www.angus.org.
“This week at the junior show, we’ve had 200 entries. I think it was the biggest junior show here at North American,” said Alex Tolbert, American Angus Association regional manager. “The cattlemen, our breeders, have brought a good set of cattle, not just cattle, but good cattle. The depth of quality is really second to none, I believe, for the Angus show.”
Tolbert said cattlemen and breeders come to events like the NAILE to see what genetics are working and what farms are up and coming within the Angus breed.
Watch this week’s The Angus Report for the full report. You can also tune in this evening at 5 p.m. CST to catch the show on RFD-TV.
Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment Period
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reminded farmers and ranchers that the next general enrollment period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) began Dec. 1, 2015, and will end on Feb. 26, 2016.
December 2015 also marks the 30th anniversary of CRP, a federally funded program that assists agricultural producers with the cost of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce loss of wildlife habitat.
As of September 2015, 24.2 million acres were enrolled in CRP. CRP also is protecting more than 170,000 stream miles with riparian forest and grass buffers, enough to go around the world seven times. For an interactive tour of CRP success stories from across the U.S., visit www.fsa.usda.gov/CRPis30, or follow on Twitter at #CRPis30.
For more information, please view the USDA news release online.
Missouri State Fair Foundation Scholarships
The Missouri State Fair Foundation Youth in Agriculture scholarship application for Missouri high school seniors is now available online at Missouri State Fair. Applications should be submitted to the Missouri State Fair and must be postmarked by Feb. 1, 2016.
“These scholarships are possible thanks to the gracious contributions of many individuals and companies,” said Youth in Agriculture Committee Chairman Wayne Yokley. “One $5,000 platinum scholarship sponsored by Youth in Agriculture supporters, one $2,500 supreme scholarship sponsored by Sydenstricker John Deere of Missouri/Sydenstricker Angus Genetics, and thirty $1,500 scholarships sponsored by Youth in Agriculture are being offered.”
Applicants must be high school seniors and active members of 4-H or FFA. Eligible scholarship applicants must plan to enroll in an accredited Missouri college or university, and pursue a degree in agriculture. Applicants must also have participated at least once as a 4-H or FFA exhibitor at the Missouri State Fair; however, applicants cannot have sold livestock in a past Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions auction.
MCA Member Advisory: Beef Checkoff Hearing Dec. 9
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) is encouraging all Missouri cattle farmers and ranchers to attend a public hearing regarding the Beef Checkoff Program on Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. at the Missouri Electric Cooperatives building on the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia.
The hearing, hosted by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, will specifically pertain to a petition from the Missouri Beef Industry Council (MBIC) to conduct a referendum of Missouri cattle producers to establish a $1 per head state beef checkoff assessment.
If, based on the Dec. 9 hearing, MDA Director Richard Fordyce determines that a referendum should be conducted, cattle producers will be required to register in order to vote. If the referendum is scheduled, registration of producers will begin on Jan. 4, 2016, and close on March 4, 2016.
For more information, please view the full MCA release online.
Ag Profitability Conference
A view to future grain and livestock conditions and prices, tax issues, farm bill considerations and cropland values are among the topics planned for the K-State Research and Extension 2016 Ag Profitability Conference Jan. 6 at the City Limits Convention Center, 2227 S. Range in Colby.
The day starts with registration and a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and the program at 9 a.m.
Alan Brugler, president of agricultural marketing advisory service Brugler Marketing & Management LLC, will lead off with a Grain and Livestock Market Outlook presentation. Brugler is a national resource for ag marketing strategy groups, having conducted more than 1,100 seminars and presentations for farm and commodity trading audiences, with extensive contacts in the United States and international agricultural industry.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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